Jack Murphy, a seasoned retail executive with strong experience in specialty food retailing, has been named Chief Executive Officer of Fairway Group Holdings Corp. Murphy was a co-founder of natural foods grocer Fresh Fields, Inc. before it was sold to Whole Foods, Inc., and most recently he served as Chief Executive Officer of Earth Fare, Inc., an organics and natural food chain with locations in the Southeast and Midwest.

“We believe that Jack brings very strong leadership to Fairway, and possesses highly relevant marketing and merchandising skills that are complementary to our organization,” said Charles Santoro, Chairman of Fairway Market. “Jack has developed and implemented business strategies for unique and highly differentiated brands, and brings great enthusiasm, perspective and leadership to the company.”

“I am very excited to lead this iconic food retailer known for its longstanding and unwavering commitment to providing a huge selection of high quality foods at great values to its millions of customers. Fairway Market is a true industry leader in innovative and exciting foods of all types. I’m honored to join this very special retail company and look forward to working with the entire Fairway Market team,” Murphy said.

In addition to co-founding and serving as Chief Operating Officer of Fresh Fields and as CEO of Earth Fare, Mr. Murphy was an Operating Partner at McCown Deleeuw & Co., the private equity firm that owned the 24 Hour Fitness chain; and a Vice President of Operations at Purity Supreme Supermarkets.

Bill Sanford, who was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer in February while the company undertook a search for a new CEO, has decided to leave the company to pursue other interests. Sanford joined the company in 2008 as Chief Administrative Officer and then served as Chief Financial Officer and President before becoming Interim CEO. Santoro added, “Bill has made significant contributions as a member of Fairway’s management team for the last six years, and we greatly appreciate his leadership and commitment throughout his time at Fairway.”

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Virtuous Living seeks to make gluten-free living more enjoyable by manufacturing products, starting with a line of spice blends, that provide for a more healthful, flavorful and fulfilling gluten-free lifestyle. Virtuous Living spice blends are certified gluten-free, kosher, halal and organic.

Love is a robust blend that gives great flavor to every dish and can be used to season poultry, fish, beef or vegetable dishes. Faith is a blend of rich spices and ingredients that adds holiday flavor to cakes, pastries, and tea. It also tastes great in oatmeal. Hope adds gluten free, salt free flavor to any meal with an all-purpose blend that’s great on poultry, fish, beef or vegetables.

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DeeBee’s Organics’ TeaPops have undergone a massive expansion since the product’s official launch in August 2013. Once only sold in a local grocer in Victoria, B.C., TeaPops are now a staple in retailers across North America. Having recently entered the US, the family-owned brand nears its 500-store milestone – with no sign of product demand subsiding.

“It’s absolutely surreal,” says Dr. Dionne Laslo-Baker, CEO and Founder of DeeBee’s Organics. “Just four months ago, we were in approximately 150 stores and now we’ve more than doubled that number. Thanks to our loyal fans, DeeBee’s TeaPops are in a rapid ascent – it’s been less than a year and we’re in close to 500 stores in North America… it’s more than I could’ve ever imagined!”

Laslo-Baker, Greg Hicklin, Nestlé’s former Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Business Development, and the DeeBee’s team collectively drive the brand’s marketing. This collaborative nature is a key component to TeaPops’ meteoric rise.

DeeBee’s TeaPops made its debut in the mega retailer, Whole Foods, earlier this year and are now popping up in stores from coast to coast. TeaPops are the world’s first certified non-GMO, organic, kosher, vegan and gluten-friendly tea-based treat, recognized as a one-of-a-kind product that suits many different lifestyles.

“We’re in several states just south of the Canadian border – Florida, Indiana, New York, Michigan, to name a few. We’ll be launching in California in September, just as we race towards our milestone!” adds Laslo-Baker. “Educating people on making healthy food choices is a passion of mine, but to see it advance into a nutritional movement makes me feel like we’re making a real difference.”

In Canada, TeaPops are found in Whole Foods, Thrifty Foods, Choices Markets and Le Couffin Bio. With a growing fan base, the healthy frozen treat is transforming the way families in North America view health and nutrition.

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“For decades and way beyond the Demeter movement, the Frey family farm has been an excellent example for economic sustainability, a concerted farming approach and a loving, caring relationship with nature.” With these words the OWA jury congratulated the Frey family on winning the OWA Silver Medal that is endowed with 2,500 Euro. Thirty-four years ago, Beba and Paul Frey started their Demeter winery which was the first organic winery in the USA. Today 30 family members coordinate the biodynamic cultivation and manage the self-sufficient farm. With success: their wines are internationally acclaimed and it was the Frey family that marketed the first sulfite-free organic wine of the world. Today, three thirds of the farm area is a designated nature preserve providing habitats for numerous plant species and wild animals.

The OWA Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to organic pioneer Fred Kirschenmann from the USA by IFOAM Executive Director Markus Arbenz and Percy and Louise Schmeiser. They stressed Kirschenmann’s tireless effort for farmers’ interests and his commitment for organic agriculture at the political and academic level. Being an internationally recognized leader, he is an impressive example for the sustainable effects that lifelong commitment can achieve. He was actively involved in the foundation of the Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society and the international certification agency Farm Verified Organic Inc. In 1995, Fred Kirschenmann’s farm was featured in the award-winning documentary “My Father`s Garden.” Currently he shares an appointment as Distinguished Fellow at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. He is President of the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture at Pocantico Hills, where he explores how rural and urban communities can work together to develop a more resilient, sustainable agriculture and food system.

This year’s OWA Gold Award was presented to two winners: the South Korean Hansalim Federation and the Timbaktu Collective fromIndia. Next to the Frey family additional OWA Silver Medals went to organic pioneer and activist Ibrahima Seck from Senegal, Biovega from Croatia as well as scientist and activist Professor Rita Schwentesius from Germany/Mexico.

In 2008 organic pioneer Joseph Wilhelm, founder and liable shareholder of Rapunzel Naturkost, initiated the international OWA award. The OWA honors individuals, projects and innovative ideas that make the world a better and more just place thanks to their positive ecological, economic and social impact. The winner of the OWA Gold receives a cash prize of 25,000 Euro and the winners of the OWA Silver award receive 2,500 Euro each. The prize money is donated by Rapunzel Naturkost. Partner and patron of the OWA is the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM). The OWA is presented every two years.

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Associated Food Stores, LLC has appointed Robert A. Sigel to the position of President. Sigel, who started his career at a family-owned business, has over 35 years of experience in the food industry including a long and successful tenure as the CEO of Millbrook Distribution Services. He is also a Director of Associated Food Store Holdings, LLC and an Operating Executive at AUA Private Equity.

Associated Food Stores is a portfolio company of AUA Private Equity Partners, supplying hundreds of independently-owned supermarkets throughout Connecticut, New Jersey, and the New York metropolitan area. As President, Sigel will report to the Board of Directors and be responsible for the overall management of the business.

Andy Unanue, Managing Partner of AUA and Chairman of Associated Food Stores, LLC, said, “We are very pleased to have someone of Bob’s caliber and experience at Associated. The breadth of his experience in leading family owned, publicly held, and private equity backed businesses in the supermarket industry will be instrumental as the company continues to grow its store banners and its market share in the New York tri-state area.”

“Associated Food Stores has a long history of providing value added services enabling independent supermarket owners to successfully grow their businesses. I look forward to working with our store owners, suppliers, and associates as we embark on our mission of expanding our services and our store concentration in the New York Metro area and beyond,” said Sigel, incoming President of Associate Food Stores, LLC.

Robert Sigel – President, Associated Food Stores, LLCMost recently Sigel has been an Operating Executive at AUA Private Equity Partners. He started his career at Millbrook Distribution Services, a value added distributor of health, beauty care, general merchandise, and specialty food products founded by his father in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was instrumental in helping to rapidly grow the business, which became one of the largest distributors of its kind in the Northeast. He also played a key role in the sale of Millbrook to McKesson Corporation and ultimately became president and chief executive officer of McKesson’s Service Merchandising Division.

When McKesson decided to focus strictly on health care-related businesses in the late 1990s, Sigel worked with an investment partner to purchase Millbrook from McKesson. His vision was to grow the specialty food portion of the business, as well as to vertically integrate the company by acquiring food brands. Mr. Sigel and his partners formed a branded food group and eventually bought Manischewitz®, Guiltless Gourmet®, and Rokeach®.

In 2007, Sigel led the successful sale of Millbrook to United Natural Food (UNFI), where he held the titles of president and CEO of Millbrook, and was named an executive officer of UNFI and president of specialty distribution. Sigel assisted in the transition and worked on the integration of Millbrook into UNFI Specialty before retiring from the company in 2008. He then established R.A. Sigel and Company to acquire, invest in and consult to branded food businesses.

Sigel graduated from Bowdoin College with a BA in Economics, and the Whitman School at Syracuse University with an MBA in Accounting and Finance.

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Social media and phone lines were buzzing last week when news broke that Annie’s had sold to food giant General Mills. Customers were confused about whether it was Annie’s or Amy’s that had been purchased.

“It was definitely not Amy’s,” said Andy Berliner, co-founder of Amy’s Kitchen. A sigh of relief came from Amy’s fan base as the confusion was cleared and they were reassured that Amy’s will continue to produce their organic and non-GMO favorites as always.

While dozens of natural food brands have been acquired by global corporations eager to corner the growing organic market, Amy’s is one of a handful of privately held, family-owned major organic food brands left—along with Nature’s Path, Lundberg Rice, Clif Bar, and Organic Valley.

“We love to feed people. That is our passion. We also find it very satisfying to make foods for people with special dietary needs,” says Rachel Berliner, company co-founder. The 26-year-old company remains committed to making its delicious mac & cheese (of which there are seven different varieties), as well as over 250 other foods from scratch in its own kitchens.

In the midst of a shifting industry, Amy’s is staying true to its founding vision. Old fashioned? Maybe. Still cooking? Definitely.

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“We’re drawing on the strong talent within both companies to build an innovative, customer-focused and growth-driven company,” said Safeway President and Chief Executive Officer,Robert Edwards, who will serve as the combined company’s president and CEO. “We are confident in this team’s ability to build a great company that’s positioned to win over the long term by earning the loyalty of grocery shoppers in every market we serve and delivering superior operational and financial results.”

After regulatory approval and closing of the transaction, the new company will have the following leadership team:

Barry Libenson, Interim Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer, reporting to Wilson. Libenson is expected to be with the new company through March 2015, at which time a successor will be named.

The new company will be comprised of three regions and 14 retail divisions. The company will keep the focus and financial responsibility at the division level, but take full advantage of the expertise, vision and core capabilities of the corporate team. The 14 divisions will be supported by corporate offices in Boise, Idaho, Pleasanton, California, and Phoenix, Arizona.

The division presidents for the new company, who will report to the chief operating officer for their respective regions, will be:

Dennis Bassler, Portland Division, North Region

Paul McTavish, Denver Division, North Region

Susan Morris, Intermountain Division, North Region

Tom Schwilke, Northern California Division, North Region

Dan Valenzuela, Seattle Division, North Region

Shane Dorcheus, Southwest Division, South Region

Scott Hayes, Southern Division, South Region

Sidney Hopper, Houston Division, South Region

Lori Raya, Southern California Division, South Region

Robert Taylor, United Division, South Region

Steve Burnham, Eastern Division, East Region

Jim Perkins, Acme Division, East Region

Jim Rice, Shaw’s Division, East Region

Mike Withers, Jewel-Osco Division, East Region

No banner changes are planned.

“We know the best way to grow our business is to have the highest quality fresh departments, lower prices, clean, well-stocked stores and the best customer service in the market,” said Bob Miller, Albertsons’ current CEO, who will become Executive Chairman of the combined company upon completion of the transaction. “Our teams will focus on delivering what customers want locally, and we will give our store teams more flexibility to make decisions that are right for their neighborhoods. The division teams will have the responsibility to have the right assortment for their markets.”

Safeway shareholders approved the proposed merger agreement on July 25, under which AB Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of Albertsons, will acquire all outstanding shares of Safeway. The transaction is under review by the Federal Trade Commission and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year, pending FTC approval.

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Natural Products Expo East opened this morning in Baltimore, Maryland with vendors offering everything from gourmet dog snacks to organic ethically produced and sourced anything at all that you might want to eat yourself. Among the offerings are, of course, any number of products designed to meet the needs of consumers observing a gluten-free diet, and the vendors’ interest in the category this year indicates that the trend is showing no sign of fading away just yet. New this year are a plethora of options in foods for consumers who have multiple dietary restrictions. As an example, ohso Good for you chocolate provides the consumer with 100% of their daily probiotics in a 70-calorie chocolate bar that’s also gluten free, dairy free and nut free. The bar’s probiotics are microencapsulated, so they’re protected from stomach acids, and are three to four times as likely to survive to replenish intestinal flora as a serving of milk or yogurt, the company says. See it in booth #4811 at Expo East or visit www.ohso.com.

Also checking off multiple boxes for those with dietary restrictions is a line of boxed mac and cheese-style dinners that are gluten free and dairy free. The company’s pastaríso Dairy Free Mac & Cheddar Style Sauce product, for example, is not just dairy free, it’s also vegan and free from wheat, gluten, soy, eggs and nuts. As you’d expect, it doesn’t taste like a full-on cheesy, creamy pasta dinner, but it’s certainly reminiscent of those flavors, and it doesn’t taste at all like cardboard. Taste it at booth #726 or visit www.maplegrovefoods.com for more information.

Traderspoint Creamery brought the yogurt recognized as the country’s best at the 2014 American Cheese Society competition. Based in Indiana, the company sources its milk from 100-percent grass-fed cows on its own farm and from a nearby coop of Amish farmers and packages the yogurt in single-serving glass cups. See them in booth #912 at the show.

thinkThin Lean Protein.& Fiber™ Bars is offering two limited edition flavors for fall: Dark Chocolate Peppermint and Pumpkin Spice. Each bar has only 150 calories, and both flavors are gluten free, non-GMO and kosher dairy. Taste them in booth #1230 or visit www.thinkproducts.com.

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Barnraiser, the crowdfunding community dedicated to powering the good food movement, is inviting sustainable food artisans, farmers, educators, community leaders and others to launch projects that reshape our food systems.

“We are thrilled to offer Barnraiser to anyone serious about making a positive impact on the way we farm and eat,” said Eileen Gordon Chiarello, Barnraiser founder and CEO, who with her husband, celebrity chef Michael Chiarello, has created award-winning restaurants, sustainably farmed wines and food-focused media properties. “Now is the time for us to exert our influence as passionate consumers. Funding these innovators is a powerful way to build the food future we want.”

Over 41 million Americans and their global counterparts make decisions based on health and sustainability. Barnraiser empowers these people to connect with innovators, share their inspirational stories, and collectively fund their success.

From heirloom fruit orchards, savory snack bars, and school gardens to mobile foraging apps, sustainable bees and responsible chicken farms, Barnraiser welcomes the wide range of sustainable and organic food innovators. “If there was a Richter scale for love, the Barnraiser crew would be at a 9.0,” exclaimed sustainable beekeeper Rob Keller, whose Barnraiser project promotes healthy bees. “I am deeply moved by our funders’ generosity, and the Barnraiser support getting us out there was epic.”

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Food safety lawyer Ron Simon has filed the first salmonella lawsuit against Costco and Norwegian-based Foppen stemming from a salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated Foppen smoked salmon sold at Costco stores nationwide.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Plaintiff Lorena Vasquez, a 39-year old resident of Mission, Texas.

In September 2012, Vasquez purchased a package of Foppen Norwegian Smoked Salmon Slices from the Costco located in Pharr, Texas.

Shortly after consuming the salmon, she experienced symptoms of diarrhea, abdominal pain, weakness, and related dehydration and was diagnosed with salmonellosis.

As a result of her illness, Vasquez was hospitalized and underwent multiple surgeries.

The Costco / Foppen Salmonella Thompson Outbreak

In the late summer and fall of 2012, the Netherlands experienced its largest food-borne bacterial outbreak in history. The pathogen was Salmonella Thompson, which traditionally appears annually in single or low double-digit numbers in the Netherlands.

By August of 2012, approximately 60 culture-confirmed cases of Salmonella Thompson had been identified; in September, over 120 more were identified; in October, nearly 900 victims had tested positive; and in November and December, approximately 100 more were identified. By December, the count of new cases had slowed to about 20, and by January 2013, the outbreak was deemed over.

As soon as health officials in the Netherlands recognized that they were in the midst of a national outbreak, investigators and epidemiologists from the National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) began to engage in a massive trace-back and epidemiological investigation.

It took investigators six weeks to determine and announce that smoked salmon was the source of the Salmonella Thompson illnesses. The salmon was the product of Foppen Paling & Zalm (“Foppen”) of Harderwijk, the Netherlands. Almost immediately thereafter, Foppen announced that the massive contamination of its salmon by Salmonella Thompson had occurred at its processing plant in Preveza, Greece.

By December of 2012, the RIVM had identified 1200 culture-confirmed victims, including four fatalities.

Costco Sold Foppen’s Contaminated Smoked Salmon in the United States

Significantly, Foppen’s contaminated smoked salmon was also distributed in the United States. According to Foppen company spokesman Bart de Vries, Foppen had only one U.S. customer, Costco, that had purchased large amounts of the fish.

On Monday, October 1, 2012, Costco initiated a recall and removal of the smoked salmon. Craig Wilson, Vice President of Costco, confirmed that the company was also in the process of contacting the 247,000 members who had purchased the contaminated salmon. Vasquez did not receive notice of the recall until after she had become ill.

Harald Wychgel, a spokesman for the Dutch public health institute, reported that as of October 2, 2012, his agency had received information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that at least 100 U.S. residents had been sickened with the identical strain of Salmonella Thompson found in Foppen’s contaminated smoked salmon.

Wychgel’s announcement was consistent with information provided by several states, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), all of which were conducting investigations of a spike in Salmonella Thompson cases in the United States. At least 10 people were hospitalized in the outbreak.